Oooomph! The breath was knocked from Carson's lungs and the world tumbled. Upside down, right side up, upside down, and finally sideways.
Carson lay sprawled on his side on the speckled linoleum, his sides heaving as he struggled both to catch his breath and overcome his shock. He knew that he needed to get to his feet and scamper away before...
Something warm and moist clamped down on what remained of Carson's tail.
This is it, Carson thought as he was dragged away, this is how it's all going to end. Oh, what will Mother think when she gets the news. If she gets the news.
As though thinking of his mother had called her up, Carson heard her voice nearby.
CARSON ALOYSIUS TRUMAN SHORTAIL!!!
It was not lost on Carson that the initials C.A.T.S. spelled the very animal that was about to eat him for a late night snack.
But wait... if a cat has my tail in his teeth why would Mother be....
It was a struggle, but Carson lifted his head high enough to look over his shoulder. His eyes widened in surprise.
Thanks to Lisa for e-mailing the phrase in bold.
If you, Dear Reader, would like to submit a sentence or phrase to use in the next installment of the story, you can post a comment (comments won't appear right away) or send an e-mail to: scripterbk@live.com
Wednesday, December 8, 2010
Tuesday, December 7, 2010
Carson -3
Carson detested the taste of cardboard. Actually it was the glue that was offensive. The combination of chemical based glue and wood pulp played havoc with his digestive system and the stuff was absolutely impossible to get out from between his teeth.
But there was no help for it, with Bonkers the cat on the prowl Carson was going to have to chew his way into the box. With a little luck one of the Family would have left one of the special bottles inside of the box. Carson had no idea what the letters T.U.M.S. meant, but the treats inside of those bottles made Carson's insides feel wonderful.
A pile of brown fluff quickly accumulated on the floor. Carson spat out as much of the cardboard as he could. With the noise of his chewing filling his ears, Carson couldn't tell what Bonkers was doing.
As soon as he had a hole bigger than his nose, Carson forced his head through the opening... And squeaked when he saw two almond shaped eyes staring back at him.
.... Thanks to Matt for suggesting the direction of this installment.
You, Dear Reader, can influence the direction of the next installment by supplying a sentence or phrase by posting a comment (comments won't appear immediately) or sending an e-mail to: scripterbk@llive.com
But there was no help for it, with Bonkers the cat on the prowl Carson was going to have to chew his way into the box. With a little luck one of the Family would have left one of the special bottles inside of the box. Carson had no idea what the letters T.U.M.S. meant, but the treats inside of those bottles made Carson's insides feel wonderful.
A pile of brown fluff quickly accumulated on the floor. Carson spat out as much of the cardboard as he could. With the noise of his chewing filling his ears, Carson couldn't tell what Bonkers was doing.
As soon as he had a hole bigger than his nose, Carson forced his head through the opening... And squeaked when he saw two almond shaped eyes staring back at him.
.... Thanks to Matt for suggesting the direction of this installment.
You, Dear Reader, can influence the direction of the next installment by supplying a sentence or phrase by posting a comment (comments won't appear immediately) or sending an e-mail to: scripterbk@llive.com
Monday, December 6, 2010
Carson -2
Whiskers twitching furiously, Carson moved forward until the tip of his pink nose emerged from shadow. He was certain disaster lurked unseen, but one of the Family had deposited a golf ball size chunk of aged cheddar cheese in the trash and Carson just had to have it. If his nose was any judge - and it was - the cheese had aged for just over three years and originated from a place known as over the water.
Carson made a mad scamper for the first of the plain brown cardboard boxes. Squeezing against a corrugated flap that was peeling back from the rest of the rectangle, Carson set his eyes on the next leg of the journey toward dinner - a round red and white striped container that towered nearly to the seat of one of the Family's kitchen chairs.
Just as Carson made ready for maneuvers, his ears caught the thump of padded feet hitting the floor.
Dear Reader: Here's your chance to decide where the story goes next. You can offer a sentence or phrase to be included in the next installment by posting a comment (comments won't appear immediately) or by sending an e-mail to: scripterbk@live.com
Carson made a mad scamper for the first of the plain brown cardboard boxes. Squeezing against a corrugated flap that was peeling back from the rest of the rectangle, Carson set his eyes on the next leg of the journey toward dinner - a round red and white striped container that towered nearly to the seat of one of the Family's kitchen chairs.
Just as Carson made ready for maneuvers, his ears caught the thump of padded feet hitting the floor.
Dear Reader: Here's your chance to decide where the story goes next. You can offer a sentence or phrase to be included in the next installment by posting a comment (comments won't appear immediately) or by sending an e-mail to: scripterbk@live.com
Sunday, December 5, 2010
Carson's Christmas
Carson Shortail peered cautiously out of his door and studied the landscape before him. It had changed drastically since the night before. Just as it had done this time last year.
The tumult shortly after dawn had warned him the upheaval had begun and Carson had made sure he remained deep in the shadows until the thumping, scraping, and scratching had stopped. Then he had schooled himself to patience and waited hours longer.
Patience did not come naturally to Carson, but after losing three inches of his four inch tail last year he resolved he would not be in a hurry if the change came again.
He was ever so hungry, and the view from his arched opening did his stomach no good. Obstacles were everywhere. Brown cardboard boxes had turned the linoleum floor into a maze. How ever was he to make it to the trash can without being discovered?
Dear Reader.... Have a sentence or phrase you'd like to see in the next installment? Post a comment (it won't be viewable right away) or send an e-mail to scripterbk@live.com
The tumult shortly after dawn had warned him the upheaval had begun and Carson had made sure he remained deep in the shadows until the thumping, scraping, and scratching had stopped. Then he had schooled himself to patience and waited hours longer.
Patience did not come naturally to Carson, but after losing three inches of his four inch tail last year he resolved he would not be in a hurry if the change came again.
He was ever so hungry, and the view from his arched opening did his stomach no good. Obstacles were everywhere. Brown cardboard boxes had turned the linoleum floor into a maze. How ever was he to make it to the trash can without being discovered?
Dear Reader.... Have a sentence or phrase you'd like to see in the next installment? Post a comment (it won't be viewable right away) or send an e-mail to scripterbk@live.com
Friday, December 3, 2010
Flying the Happy Airways
Is that a handkerchief in your pocket - or are you just excited about flying?
TSA officials are now saying that body scanners INCREASE the need for pat-downs as part of airport security.
Huh?
Yep - because the scanners call attention to anything in a person's pockets, those pocket contents need to be investigated by pat-downs. Now there's talk about pat-downs before body scans so officials will know what it is the body scanner is picking up.
Yes, it's a clear cut case of ineffectual beauracracy gone wild.
The U.S. really has gone off the deep end in airport security.The fact is, if a terrorist wants to bring a plane down, he or she will do so regardless of any security measure in place. The threat of destroying a plane is where terrorists are winning the battle.
As for me - I'm going to carry my change of socks in the leg of my jeans on my next flight. I'll take my thrills wherever I can get them.
TSA officials are now saying that body scanners INCREASE the need for pat-downs as part of airport security.
Huh?
Yep - because the scanners call attention to anything in a person's pockets, those pocket contents need to be investigated by pat-downs. Now there's talk about pat-downs before body scans so officials will know what it is the body scanner is picking up.
Yes, it's a clear cut case of ineffectual beauracracy gone wild.
The U.S. really has gone off the deep end in airport security.The fact is, if a terrorist wants to bring a plane down, he or she will do so regardless of any security measure in place. The threat of destroying a plane is where terrorists are winning the battle.
As for me - I'm going to carry my change of socks in the leg of my jeans on my next flight. I'll take my thrills wherever I can get them.
Thursday, December 2, 2010
College Dude Decree
College Dude saves the day.
I was struggling with what tonight's post would be and so took time to surf the web and check in on Facebook. And what should I find on College Dude's Facebook page but a decree I heartily endorse and share herewith with a few Sea Zens appropriate edits:
And do it is decreed that temperatures shall remain in the 50's and 60's December thru March except for the 21st to 29th of December where temperatures may slip into the 20's and 30's. Furthermore between December 23rd and 27th a maximum of 3 inches of total snowfall is permissible but none before of after!
It is good to know that my son has maintained a firm grasp on the world as it should be.
I was struggling with what tonight's post would be and so took time to surf the web and check in on Facebook. And what should I find on College Dude's Facebook page but a decree I heartily endorse and share herewith with a few Sea Zens appropriate edits:
And do it is decreed that temperatures shall remain in the 50's and 60's December thru March except for the 21st to 29th of December where temperatures may slip into the 20's and 30's. Furthermore between December 23rd and 27th a maximum of 3 inches of total snowfall is permissible but none before of after!
It is good to know that my son has maintained a firm grasp on the world as it should be.
Wednesday, December 1, 2010
Changes in Attitude
I thought I was doing a pretty good job of adjusting to the last days of post-summer this year.
I tried to look for the glory in the display of multicolored trees and for the sense of invigoration from the chill in the air. As leaves started to fall more rapidly and late blooming plants lost their blooms I made an effort to think of nature resting and building stamina for the coming pre-summer.
And then my travels took me to the warm Caribbean where brilliant green palm fronds sway in the warm breeze, flowers and shrubs bloom in a multitude of colors, and white fluffy clouds sail smoothly across a royal blue sky.
Blinders off, I returned to December in the Middle Atlantic region of the U.S. - and realized the barren trees stand like defeated soldiers in an abandoned field of battle and the cold winds that howl unimpeded carry the chill of death rather than the hope of rebirth.
Truly bears are the smartest of all creatures at this time of year; curling up in their dens and waiting for the warmth of April.
I tried to look for the glory in the display of multicolored trees and for the sense of invigoration from the chill in the air. As leaves started to fall more rapidly and late blooming plants lost their blooms I made an effort to think of nature resting and building stamina for the coming pre-summer.
And then my travels took me to the warm Caribbean where brilliant green palm fronds sway in the warm breeze, flowers and shrubs bloom in a multitude of colors, and white fluffy clouds sail smoothly across a royal blue sky.
Blinders off, I returned to December in the Middle Atlantic region of the U.S. - and realized the barren trees stand like defeated soldiers in an abandoned field of battle and the cold winds that howl unimpeded carry the chill of death rather than the hope of rebirth.
Truly bears are the smartest of all creatures at this time of year; curling up in their dens and waiting for the warmth of April.
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